Right from the moment Ajay Devgn announced the release date of Son Of Sardar, the film has constantly been in news for all the wrong reasons. All that is behind them now, as the film releases in theatres today.

Starring Ajay Devgn, Sonakshi Sinha, Sanjay Dutt and Juhi Chawla, Son Of Sardar is the remake of S.S. Rajamouli’s 2010 blockbuster Maryada Ramanna.

Story: Son Of Sardar is about Jassi (Ajay Devgn) who falls head-over-heels in love with Sukh (Sonakshi Sinha). On his way to his hometown, he lands up as a guest at her house, the residence of the Sandhus. Billu (Sanjay Dutt), Tito (Vindhu Dara Singh) and Tony (Mukul Dev) are on a mission to avenge the death of their father, who was killed by Jassi’s father. They can’t kill him though, because mehmaan bhagwan hota hai (guest is like a god). So they decide to destroy him the moment he steps out of their house.

Son Of Sardar Review

In the ‘remake era’, a few entertaining south remakes that I have genuinely enjoyed watching are Wanted, Singham and Rowdy Rathore. Sadly, in an attempt to make the most out of it, hindi filmmakers are desperately looking for ‘blockbuster scripts’, which are then being adapted to suit the Hindi audience. Son Of Sardar is no different, it’s a masala film that the masses will love.

Director Ashwani Dhir of Athiti Tum Kab Jaoge fame, tries to recreate the magic of Rajamaouli’s Maryada Ramanna, with a punjabi flavour. The film kicks off with a power-packed over-the-top action sequence. Next up is the romantic angle, as Jassi tries to woo Sukh. A song and dance sequence (Raja Rani) follows a few funny dialogues. The rest of the film is all about the revenge tale, and how Jassi tries to avoid stepping out of his house for the fear of getting killed.

The film has a wafer-thin plot and most scenes are stretched too long. The makers have tried way too hard to make the scenes funny. One ‘meant-to-be hilarious’ sequence just before the interval, when Jassi is about the leave the house, well aware that he will be killed if he steps out, is close to 20 minutes long and tends to get way too irritating after a point. The love story is half baked, infact, Sonakshi and Ajay have very few romantic scenes in Son Of Sardar.

Ajay Devgn is good as a Sardar, but I do miss watching him in films like Gangajal, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Zakhm or even Once Upon A Time In Mumbai. While his comic timing is good, he is more suited for intense hard-hitting characters. He is a fantastic actor, who is wasting his talent in nonsensical films. Sonakshi Sinha ‘smiles’ her way through the film, she has very little to do. Sanjay Dutt is funny in the first half. Juhi Chawla is good. The rest are okay.

The music is a mixed bag, Bichdann is easily the best song in the film. Cinematography is good. A few dialogues are good.

Overall, Son Of Sardar will work with it’s target audience. It has a few laughs, one good song, decent performances and unrealistic action. Looking for a story, an iota of sense or something different? Don’t bother.

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